Grain elevator



March 19, 1929.

GRAIN ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 30, 1.926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q 2 I S.

JM T r I Q 8 FLME i 5 a ll MN m "1 3 l U .3. o Q l:- N

U N A N m Imvzw'run BY w WHQ 3 ATTORNEYS A. J. HARTLEY 1,705,478 4 March 19, 1929. A. J. HARTLEY GRAIN ELEVATOR Filed Oct. 50, 1926 r 2 Sheets-Sheet AITEIHNBY:

Patented Mar. 19,1229.

barren STATES ARTHUR J. HARTLEY, OF IEQRIA, ILLINOIS.

GRAIN ELEVATOR;

Application filed October 30, 1926. Serial No. 145,227;

This invention relates to grain elevators.

One of the objects of the invention is in the provision of a grain elevator fashioned in v a manner to present an all metal exterior, the same beingof simple construction but combining therewith the feature of increased strength and added utility.

Another object thereof is in the provision of grain elevating mechanism having its outer section formed of two metal sections, the same having their adjacent edge portions overlapped in such manner that the connecting means may also engage a wooden interior portion that divides the outer section into two distinct p arts, namely the grain elevating side and the return portion for the grain elevating mechanism. 7

Yet another object is in the method or" fashioning the housing portion of an elevating mechanism, whereby an all metal exterior is v ing. member, the same to be later described in detail,.is suitably supported upon the-side of a threshing machine, the same being desig presented said housing being attached in a simple manner. to a. wooden divider portion with the result that not only a simple and 1neXpensive elevator section is provided, but

also one having the advantage of greatly increased strength and ease of manufacture.

Still another ob ect hes inthe provision of mechanism for adjusting the endless chain elevating mechanism disposed within the elevator section, said ad ustable mechanism being disposed exteriorly of the elevator and in" such position as to obviate the usual necessity of entering the elevator section to adjust the er conveyor finally delivering the grain from its delivery end 18. rA manually operated endless chain.

tion, said bootmember including a readily attached and quickly removable band and cover member surrounding the main hopper portion, said quick detachable band and'cover permitting ready entrance to the interior of the elevator section or boot portion in case of the necessity of service. i I

Other objects of the invent-ion willappear in the following specification, taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing generally my elevator section attached to a. threshing machine and in operative engagement therewith.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, partially in section, of the boot portion of; the elevator, the same being shown in side elevation;

A'further object is int-he construction 01' a special boot niemberfor the elevator sec p .ilowering the power conveyor, said mecha- Fig. 4c is anend elevation ot Fig.7 3,'por.-

tions thereof being cutaway for more detail view of the mechanism for adjusting the V endless chain or grain elevatingmechanism;

line 55 of Fig. 4, the same showing more in detail a portion of the adjustable mechanism for the endless chain. Y 3 q Referring to'the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 the general assembly of the grain elevating; mechanism in connection with a threshing machine. i

Although the present application is directed specifically to; the grain elevating portion, per se, nevertheless said view includes a show- 111g of such auxiliary-mechanlsm as ordinarily used in connection with the before mentloned grain elevator. j

In the presentinstance, the grain elevatnated 10. Suitably attached in any suitably supported by means ofthe brackets v Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the 14, engaging angle irons15 attached to the elevator section. livers nto the receiving end 16 of a power conveyor 17 of conventional deslgn, saidpowmechanism 19 is provided for raising and The hopper 13 again dej nism being attached at one end to the delivery end of the grain elevator and at its opposite end to the delivery end of the power conveyor. Means for driving the elevator, grain weigher and power conveyor includes a main belt drive 19 from the threshing machine.

I From pulleysirotated by said belt 19 power is transmitted through chains 20and 21'to the elevating mechanism in-the gram elevator, and also to the "power conveyor, all of is directed mainly to the grain. elevator itself. In the present instance, the housing for the grain elevator comprises twometal sections designated 22 and 23 respectively. These metal sections are fashioned in-the manner shownin Fig. 2, with-theedgeportions oftsectionQfioverlapped by the-opposed: 'edgesofmetal section 23. The final connection between these two sections isaccomplished by disposing the Woodem dividen member 24 in such manner With respect'to the overlapping edges of the two metalf'see tions, as to permit a single attachment member or plurality of attachment meniliers 25 to engage at one time the overlapping edges of the metal sections and the edge of? the Wooden divider member; It is obvious that the" plurality of attachment members 25 com- -pletes the final connection at various points along the edges thereof between the over lapping" metal"sections1and the interior WOOClGIl divider.

' It may-'' be seen from the above that an elevator section of simple construction; is

provided, the method of'constr-ucting same permit-ting quickness 0t 11] nuiacture, the presentation ofan all metalexterior, as Well as ilIl lIlCIGZLSB in strength over; elevator sections heretoforeknown and including the presentation of a partial Woodeninterior.

The elevator section above descrihedis end the-beforemcntioned-delivery portion or head 11, the same being connected-in the welifknownmanneri, an d including-a conven- I manner, a complete circular aperture open tional sprocket-member, not shown, driven bysproeket 26, which isin tiirn driven by the 1 *belt 20.

Atthe. lowerend of elevator section is securely riveted a strengtheninganch'supporting angle 27" surrounding threeasidesot tl'ie-elevator'section, as clearlysliown in llig's: 3andt of-thedraviings; Se cured hy means of a plurallty ot-fhc1ts28 to said member 27 arethe angle irons 29, to

Which are Welded? the framing members 302 and" 81 for the elevatorboot port-ion; These 7 members 3O and 31 are the skeleton" framing for-the covering members of the boot portion. One side ofthcxb'oot memberremains open,

with the-exception of a metal platfeZQ that I covers; the upper end thereof" in a manner to 1 present a-complet'e circular opening, the lat tercoinciding" with thegrain delivery poi:- tinc of the threshing machine, not shown;

' The oppositeside 01'? the boot has a similar plate 33, securely attached in a likemanner to the-skeleton frame However, there is left open 111 1 a snni'iar ing directly into the elevator hoot. This opening i closed by a removablecover 34 Whicliis held in fix-ed position hyfmeans of several clamps 37, Which are held inoperative'position by Wingnuts 35, screw threaded upon bolt members '86 which engage the skeleton frames 30 an'd 31; It is readily apparent- .thatiby"looseningthe Wing nuts 35, the clamps 37 will reliease the cover 34, so that it may be quickly detached; The detachablefeatureof this cover member" permits ready entrance the above described the upper end of the elevator:

into the boot inacase of;elogging on'necessity 0% service and thereforecontributes greatly to-tlieeiiiciency of the grain elevator in the field To complete the enclosure of the boot portion, a band 38 of sufiiciently flexible metal is securely attached, as at 39, at one end to'thea'ngleironsupport 27, said metal band extending entirely around the boot and fitting closely t heinWa-rdly projecting edges 40- and 41' oi the skeleton angle-iron; frames -3O-and3l, saidmetal bandi 0o mially extend its projecting end the nut 47, which holds- 7 the metal band 38 tightly upon the angle irontrames 30 and 31" and in such manner as to-prevent t-heexit of grain f-mni 'the boot.

Again, We find'a covering, for the" boot-- which may be quickly removed, ea least theloose-end thereof'may be'disengaged to-permit ready entrance intothe boot infcase o'f i congestion or the necessity of repair t0'-tl1'e*-- grain elevating mechanism: W e find," therefore, not the usual entirely enclosed boot member, dihi'cult of entry,- but su'h'stan ti'ally skeleton hoot member maintainingrigidity OfCODSlJDJJGtlOD, With the advantage of a quickly detachable-coveringthat may be readily removed in the field in case of congestion 01"111 case rep IHOf the liltGB-Il'fll elevating mechanismis necessary. 7

Asbetore described, a pulley of conven ticnal construction is disposed-and driven at Another sprocket 48 is disposed in the boot oi the grain elevator and upon said pulleys lS'CRF- ried theendless chain 49; upon-Which-areattached, intlie usualmanner, the grainelevat ino bucli'ets 50. The sprockets aredisposed With their axes in the same plane ast he Wooden divider 244, Wlnchseparatos into t wo sections themain elevator section'beiore d escribedandmade up of theoverl apping metal l sections 22- and 23.

It is obvious that when'g'rain is ClCllVGlOfl into tlieboot ot the grainelevator, the=continuously operating chain, andimoreparticu larly, the buckets thereon, Will pick up the grain therein, same in the elevator-upon one side thereof, discharge the elevated grain at the delivery 1'1 theempty bucket Will" move downwardly upon the: opposite side of the elevator section until they have reached theboot and again pick upithe grain "an d continue their 'elevating' action.

A special'meane has been providedifor supporting and adjusting the lower sprocket 458; This mechanism includes a: vertically; dis-v jects through the angle iron supporting 111G111- i361 27 and is ad ustably secured to the eleva-- the bearing and holds saine in proper posi tion. The sprocket supporting bar 51 protoi' section by means of bolt members 57 and58. I'heboltme nber 57'ha-s its head lying 1 within the elevator section, and its body projecting through the lug 59, thencethrough a slot in the bar51, a nut 61 being threaded upon the projecting end thereof in a manner to clamp the sprocket supporting bar 51 in any desired position of adjustment. The bolt 58 has a substantially similar mounting with respect to the sprocket supporting bar 51, in

that the body portion thereof projects through a similar slot 62 therein, said bolt having a nut 63 threaded upon the projecting end thereof. It may be readily seen from the above that by loosening the nuts 61 and 63, any adjustment of the sprocket within the boot portion may be made without the neces sity of opening up the boot. This exterior adjustment of the sprocket, and hencethe endless chain, has the advantage of permit ting quick adjustment thereof in the field and without the necessity of taking the time to remove the boot portions which in a grain elevator of conventional construction is a difficult matter. Also, this particular adjustable mounting results in a simplified elevator construction.

Referring to the operation of the described elevator, such operation is thought obvious as far as the elevation of. the grain is con corned, and as respects the adjustment of the endless chain or grain elevating mechanism therein, the same has ust been described, and more manual adjustment of the sprocket supporting bar 51 eXterioi-ly results in the proper tension of the elevating mechanism.

Likewise, it is apparent that by forming the elevator section of two distinct metal sections and having their edges overlap at a central. point in such manner as to be engaged simultaneously by attachment members with the wooden divider member, not only an elevator section presenting an entire metal outer surface will be provided, but also anelevator section of greatly increased strength and simplicity of design.

With respect tothe special boot portion of the elevator, it is apparent that by forming the skeleton framing member for the boot and thereafter detachably mounting a cover I for the side of the boot, as well as a detachable band about the edges thereof, entrance to the elevator mechanism in the boot-may be readily accomplished with a minimuni of;

time and by the manual removal of a very few portions. This particular fashioning of the bootresults in a greatly improved elevator mechanism and one that may be serviced I quickly by an operator in the field.

l/Vl'iat I claim is: g I

1. A grain elevator comprising ahead portion, a bootportion and an interi'nediate elevating-section comprising two metal half sections, the edges of one of said sections adapted to be overlapped by the edges of theadjacent sect on, a wood divider member having its edge portionslyiiig ad acent the overlapping edges of the metal half sections and attach ment means for connecting the overlapping edges of the metal sections and the Wood divider member.

2. An elevator section comprising opposed.

metal half sections, adjacent edges of said metal half sections adapted to overlap in such manner that an all metal exterior is presented, and a wooddivider member disposed I within said sections, the edge portions thereof lying adjacent the overlapped edges of the metal'section, andplural attachment means for connectingthe overlapped edges of the metal sections and the wood divider member.

3. The method offorming an elevator section comprising first forming opposed metal half sections, then placing a wooden dividerf member in one of said" sections, with the edge portions thereof lying adjacent the edges of.

the metal half section, then assembling the opposed half section with the edges thereof overlapping the edges of the first named half 7 section and finally connecting the overlapped edges of the metal half section to the wood divider member. 7

4. A grain elevator comprising a heat portion, a boot portion, an intermediate elevating section including therein an endless chain elevating mechanism, andmeans foradjusting the endless chain elevating mechanism comprising a sprocket for the endless chain,

a bearing for said sprocket, a bearing supporting member having one end disposed within the boot member and supporting the said bearing, the opposite end thereof being disposed exteriorly of the elevator, and iiioai'is (JOHQGCtOtlWlth said eXt-eriorly disposed por-- tion of the bearing supporting member permitting adjustment thereof to vary the tension of the endless chain mechanism.

5. A grain elevator comprising an elevating chain comprisinga sprocketsupp'orting memher having a portion thereof disposed on teriorly of the elevator section,-and mechanism connected with said sprocket supporting mechanism Jermitting manual adj ust'ment oi the tension of the endless, cliainoutside the elevator section.

65 A. rain elevator havin an elevatin seeb 2: i a

1 tion and a" boot portion, said boot portion comprising. rigid framing members fixedto said elevating section, a flexible metallic band 'extendin oerinherall around said fi'amim v C: L t) members'to form an outer Wall ofsaid boot,

' and having one of its'ends' fixed to said eiesaid band.

. 7a A grain elevator having an elevating moans:

section: and'a boot portion, said boot portion" comprising rigid framing members fixed to" said-elevating section, a flexible'metallic band extending peripherally around said framing members-to form an outer Wall of said boot,

and having one of its'ends fixed to'sa'id'ele Vating section, means for detachably securing its other end to saidelevating section, said means comprisinga bracket, athreaded memoer cooperating therewith, and a nut for drawing said bolt and brackettogether to tension said band. I

Intestimonywhereof I have hereunto a'fj fined my signature.

ARTHUR J. HARTLEY. 

